Diatomaceous Earth

[Clyde Evons]

We would like to introduce our EPA Registered 100%Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer.

100% Diatomaceous Earth
EPA Registered
Approved for use by Organic Trade Association
IPM "Green" Listed
Safe around Children and Pets

Contact: C. Evons, sales@bugging-out.com
[url][/url]

[mbrock]

:?: My sister told me that California has banned the sale of Diatomceous earth because if it gets in your lungs it does not break down and can cause lung cancer. Is this true? and if so, should we be concerned about using it?
thanks, mb

[Clyde Evons]

MB,

Thank you for your question, I do not know about a ban in California on Diatomaceous Earth. If there is a regulation on DE it will be on products that contain high levels of Crystalline Silica.

Crystalline Silica is defiantly something that needs to be avoided! This is what gets in your lungs and can cause silicosis. It is very important to know what type of DE you are buying and use it for its given purpose. We have several different products that we sell, our crawling insect killer has been registered by the EPA and we are pursuing registation in California.

Our Diatomaceous Earth comes from a proprietary source. This DE has been tested at several Universities and independent laboratories, their findings have all been the same…….our DE has “Undetectable levels of crystalline silica at levels less than 0.1%”.
We know of no other DE that meets the OSHA regulations of no more that 0.1% crystalline silica!

No other DE has these qualities; please visit our web site for additional information.

www.bugging-out.com

Best of luck and be safe!

Clyde

[khwoz]

mbrock, your sister may be referring to swimming pool DE. It goes through a process which makes it a great filter for water but is dangerous to breath (the dry dust).

[dirtworks]

There are many types of DE and some are harmful. Diatomaceous Earth processed by Perma-Guard is fresh water DE with the lowest rating for Silica known. It is safe under most conditions.
Farmers or pest control people who use the product in volume everyday are wise to wear a dust mask when using it simply because breathing any type of dust in quantity every day is bad for you. My firend's dog died of lung cancer from breathing in cedar saw dust everyday from his cedar furniture wood shop. He brought his dog with him everyday and let him sleep in the piles on the floor.
The good things is, DE is so effective most people would never use it everyday for pest control. Farmers and feed lots do use it everyday in large quantity for pest control and dietary supplements. I put some in my juice from time to time and my dog Angel gets some in her food twice a day. It's used to treat grain silos to protect the grain from insect infestation so many people eat it every day without even knowing it. It's good for you as a mineral supplement and it kills internal parasites in people and livestock.
The D-20 with Pyrethrine is not edible and knocks down fleas, bed bugs and other insects very quickly. I recommend it to anyone with a chronic problem with fleas and ticks. The Pyrethrine is a safe natural product that evaporates in a short time and leaves just the DE behind.
We have free instructions and information available for download at http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html.
John Meshna (owner) Dirt Works

[merri]

Does DE wash away with rain and watering? this probably sounds like a silly question to all the seasoned pros out there, but hey - gotta learn some time, right?

I have been putting it out because something is devouring my onions and leeks...and has even moved in on the spinach! the onion and leeks are just severed off, and i have no idea what the 'chewing' pattern is on the spinach...the radishes have small holes up to bigish chomps (they have bigger troubles than bugs, tho, i fear!!!)

thoughts?

thanks to all!
se la, merri

[dirtworks]

DE does wash off in the rain and needs to be reapplied if the problem persists.
Many chewing bugs lay eggs and breed in the soil though so, cultivating under and around the plants to disturb the soil can do a lot to control them.

Neem oil is a very good pesticide as well.

If your plants are beinf chewed off to a stump, you probably have some type of critter doing that. hot pepper wax can be used to deter rodents.

I had a problem like that once and couldn't identify the foot prints and one day I saw the villain who dit it. It was a snapping turtle of all things. He got run over in the road by some one and the problem went away!

[merri]

thanks dirtworks!
i wonder what would be attracted to onion and leek? seems like they would be the LAST choice! i am hopelessly new to this, and have bitten off more than i can chew with my first year garden!!!

i will try the hot pepper wax!

thanks, merri

[Brenda Parker]

Today I bought some DE at a Farm and Feed Store in Porter Texas. The owner put his finger in it and licked it off his finger to prove it's safe to ingest. I thought I bought DE at my local nursery only to read the label and see it was a derivative from DE, containing only 85% silicon, with 10 % an element, and 5% moisture and is harmful to children and pets? What's up with that?

[Tricky Grama]

I just don't get the controversy over DE. Of course, I understand the hazzards of swimming pool grade-it's not the same stuff. But I know a lot of people who EAT the stuff daily! And feed it to their pets.

I really think the chemical companies have something to do w/those warnings on DE. (I've always been a tad paranoid. :) )